Writing instrument

ABSTRACT

A retractable writing implement includes relatively rotatable upper and lower barrel sections and a writing element advancing mechanism including a first tubular member fixed in the upper barrel section and having an inclined bottom cam edge extending partially around the tubular member. A second tubular member includes an upper portion telescoping the first tubular member and having a pair of opposite vertical slots and a pair of top shoulder elements engaging a peripheral shoulder on the first tubular member inside face and a lower portion of greater diameter than the top portion and with a top peripheral shoulder abutting the first tubular member bottom face. A chuck engaging a spring retracted writing element has one follower engaging one of the slots and the cam and another follower engaging the other slot.

United States Patent 11 1 Ganz [451 Feb. 19,1974

[ WRITING INSTRUMENT [75] Inventor: Walter C. Ganz, New Y9rk, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: K. C. Pen (10., Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., [22] Filed: Feb. 11, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 225,573

52 us. Cl. 401/109 [51] Int. Cl B43k 24/06 [58] Field of Search ..401/78,116,1-10,.111,109

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,153,479 10/1964 l-Ioltgren 401/78 3,436,160 4/1969 Lanoie 401/116 3,597,100 8/1971 Ganz 401/116 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 934,160 8/1963 Great Britain 401/111 849,460 9/1960 Great Britain 401/110 Primary Examiner-Lawrence Gharles Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Howard C. Miskin [5 7] ABSTRACT face and a lower portion of greater diameter than the top portion and with a top peripheral shoulder abutting the first tubular member bottom face. A chuck engaging a spring retracted writing element has one follower engaging one of the slots and the cam and another follower engaging the other slot.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB l 9 I974 MM! 1 [If 2 WRITING INSTRUMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to improvements in writing instrucments and it relates particularly to a replaceable full size cartridge writing implement, in which the writing element is advanced and retracted by the relative turning of different sections of the implement.

Many different types of mechanisms have been employed and proposed to selectively advance and retract a writing element, such as a ballpoint cartridge or the like, out of and into the writing implement barrel. These retracting mechanisms are actuated in many manners. Moreover, the conventional propel-repel mechanism is complex, unreliable and of high cost. Further, such mechanism requires a distinctive button or actuating member which detracts from the appearance of the instrument. Various attempts to disguise this button have been made, but it inherently has to be visible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved writing implement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved writing implement having a quick retractable writing element.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved writing implement which is advanced and retracted quickly with the turning of a section of the implement less than 360 which is usable with standard writing cartridges and which is of conventional or thin dimensions.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a writing instrument of the above nature, characterized by its inexpensiveness, ruggedness, compactness, ability to accommodate thick cartridges, reliability, and ease and convenience of use and operation.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof.

In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of a retractable writing implement comprising a barrel member including relatively rotatable upper and lower coaxial sections, a writing element disposed in the barrel member and longitudinally movable formed proximate the lower end of the cam. A peripheral upwardly facing shoulder is formed in the upper inner face of the first tubular member. The second tubular member is rotatable with the lower barrel section and includes an upper portion having diametrically opposed vertical slots and an enlarged lower portion delineated from the upper portion by a peripheral shoulder which slidably engages the horizontal bottom edge of the first tubular member. Assembly locking elements are formed along the top edge of the second tubular member and slidably engage the peripheral shoulder on the inside face of the first tubular member. The chuck is in the form of a cap having diametrically opposed radially projecting followers, one of which slidably engages the cam and one of the slots and the other fol lower engages only the other slot.

The improved cartridge advancing and retracting mechanism is simple, reliable, rugged, compact and of low cost, quick acting with only a partial rotation of the cap, and it permits the use, in a pen which is relatively 7 thin or of standard dimensions, of standard size pen between a retracted position and an advanced position projecting through the bottom of the barrel member, spring means urging the writing element to a retracted position and a writing element advancing mechanisms including a pair of rotatable telescoping first and second tubular members relatively rotatable with the rotation of the upper and lower barrel sections, the first tubular member having an inclined cam defining peripheral edge and the second member having a longitudinally extending slot, and a chuck longitudinally slidably disposed in the tubular members and engaging the writing element and having a follower element slidably engaging the slot and the cam.

In the preferred form of the improved writing implement the first tubular member is fixed in the upper barrel member and itsbottom edge is inclined for about half its periphery to define the cam, a recess being cartridges.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention as applied to a replaceable cartridge retractable ballpoint pen, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the improved pen which includes a barrel 11, a writing element 12 in the form of a ballpoint cartridge and a writing element advancing and retracting mechanism 13. The barrel 11 includes relatively rotatable coaxial top and bottom end to end sections 14 and 16 respectively, the top or cap section 14 having affixed to the upper part thereof a depending clip member 17 of conventional construction. The bottom barrel section 16 terminates in a tapered bottom portion 18 having a central opening 19 at the tip thereof.

Replaceably housed in the barrel 11 is the cartridge 12 which coaxially extends from proximate the tip opening 19 into engagement with the advancing mechanism 13, as will be hereinafter described, which is located in the upper barrel section 14. Ears 20 are formed on the lower part of cartridge 12 andthe cartridge terminates at its bottom in a ballpoint member 21 of reduced cross section which is axially aligned with opening 19. A helical spring 22 engages the cartridge 12 and is entrapped between the ears 20 and a washer 23 disposed in tapered portion 18 above opening 19 to normally urge the cartridge 12 to its raised retracted position, as shown in FIG. 1, with writing member 21 being fully drawn into the barrel tapered portion 18.

The propel-repel mechanism 13, according to the present invention, includes a pair of telescoping relatively rotatable upper and lower first and second tubular members 24 and 26 respectively and a chuck or cartridge carrier 27. The first tubular member 24 nests in the upper barrel section 14 and tightly engages the inside face thereof so as to rotate with and be fixed in the barrel section 14, extending from proximate the bottom edge of barrel section 14 to the base of the tapered upper portion thereof. The upper portion of tubular member 24 is of greater inside diameter than the lower portion 28 thereof and is delineated therefrom by a peripheral, upwardly facing, inside shoulder 29. The bottom edge of tubular member 24 for about half its circumference is peripherally inclined or helically shaped to define a cam 30, which terminates at opposite ends in vertical shoulders 32 extending from the ends of cam 30 to the horizontal bottom edge 33 occupying the remaining half of the full bottom edge of tubular member 24. Formed in the cam edge 30 at its lower end proximate vertical shoulder 33 is a shallow recess 34 and a flat is formed at the upper end of cam 30.

The second tubular member 26 includes an upper section 36 having an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of tubular member 24 and a lower section 37 of somewhat greater inside and outside diameters than upper section 36 and delineated therefrom by an interconnecting peripheral flange 38. Formed in tube section 36 are a pair of diametrically opposite vertical guide slots 39 and 40 which extend from flange 38 to the top edge of section 36 to delineate a pair of opposite resilient arms. A pair of locking elements 41 are integrally formed with and project above section 36'intermediate the slots 39 and 40, each of the elements 41 including a radially outwardly directed flat underface 42 and an inwardly upwardly inclined outer face 43.

The chuck 27 includes a cylindrical cap shaped body member 48 of an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of tube upper section 36 and which is closed at its top and has an axial cylindrical bore. Projecting radially outwardly from the lower face of body member 48 are a pair of diametrically opposite follower defining legs 50 and 51. The follower 50 is longer than the follower 51 and each of the followers is of a width slightly less than those of slots 39 and 40 and the top face of follower 50 is tapered to a follower edge.

In the assembled condition of the mechanism 13 tubular member upper section 36 of second tubular member 26 rotatably telescopes first tubular member 24 whose horizontal bottom edge 33 slidably engages flange 38, the tubular members being restricted against longitudinal movement by locking elements 41 whose underfaces 42 slidably engage the shoulder 29. The chuck 27 is slidably disposed in tubular section 36 with the follower 51 slidably engaging slot 40 and not projecting beyond the outside face of section 36 and with the follower 50 projecting through slot 39 and slidably engaging slot 39 and cam 30. The assembly of the mechanism 13 is simply effected by first positioning chuck 27 in section 36 and then telescoping section 36 into section 24, the opposite legs of section 36 being resiliently contracted by the action of the section 24 on the inclined faces 43 of elements 41 until the elements 43 pass shoulder 29 of first tubular member 24.

The mechanism 13 is separably coupled to barrel section 16 to permit the relative rotation of members 24 and 26 by a stepped sleeve 52. The sleeve 52 includes an upper section 53 of small diameter which engages the inside face of tube section 37 of member 26 and whose upper edge abuts flange 38, and a lower section 54 of large diameter which engages the upper inside face of barrel section 16. The sleeve sections 53 and 54 are joined by an upwardly inwardly inclined peripheral wall 56.

In the operative position of the pen 10 the upper end of the cartridge 12 engages the bore of the chuck 27 and under the influence of compression spring 22 urges the chuck 27 to bring follower 50 into operative engagement with cam 30. In the retracted position of cartridge 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the follower 50 engages the upper flat of cam 30 proximate a shoulder 32. In order to advance the cartridge 12 against the influence of spring 22, the barrel sections 14 and 16 are turned relative to each other to correspondingly turn tubular members 24 and 26. The follower 50 thus traverses the cam 30 to lower the chuck 27 and cartridge 12 until the follower reaches the lower end of cam 30 and engages the retaining recess 34, in which condition the cartridge 12 is fixed in the position shown in FIG. 4 with writing tip 21 projecting through opening 19. The cartridge 12 is retracted merely by turning the barrel sections 14 and 16 in an opposite direction less than 270 to to that which advances the cartridge.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is apparent that numerous alterations, omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A retractable writing implement comprising a barrel member including relatively rotatable upper and lower coaxial sections, a writing element disposed in said barrel member and longitudinally movable between a retracted position and an advanced position projecting through the bottom of said barrel member, a spring engaging said writing element and urging it toward a retracted position, and a writing element advancing mechanism including a pair of relatively rotatable telescoping first and second tubular members respectively rotatable with said upper and lower barrel sections, said first tubular member having an inclined cam defining peripheral edge and said second tubular member having a longitudinally extending slot, and a chuck longitudinally slidably disposed in said tubular members and engaging said writing element and urged thereby toward a retracted position and having a follower element slidably engaging said slot and said cam, said first and second tubular members having a length greater than said chuck.

2. The writing implement of claim 1 wherein said slot is vertical and said second tubular member has a second slot formed therein parallel to and diametrically opposite said first slot, said chuck having a second follower disposed thereon slidably engaging said second slot and terminating at a point short of the inner face of said first tubular member, said cam edge being downwardly directed.

3. The writing implement of claim 2 wherein said first follower is longer than said second follower.

4. The writing implement of claim 1 including a sleeve member having an upper portion engaging the lower inside face of said second tubular member and a lower portion of enlarged outside diameter engaging the inside face of said lower barrel section.

5. The writing implement of claim 1 wherein said cam edge is positioned above the bottom-most edge of said first tubular member and has a recess formed therein proximate its lower end.

6. The writing implement of claim 5 wherein said depending stop defining shoulders are movable into alternative abutment with said follower element.

7. A retractable writing implement comprising a bardirected cam, said second tubular member being rotatable with said lower barrel section and having a longitudinally extending slot and including an upper portion disposed in said first tubular member and a lower portion disposed below and of greater outside diameter than said upper portion and delineated from said upper portion by a peripheral shoulder, a portion of the bottom edge of said first tubular member being horizontal and slidably engaging said shoulder, and a chuck slidably disposed in said tubular members and engaging said writing element and having a follower element slidably engaging said slot and said cam.

8. The writing implement of claim 7 wherein said first tubular member has an upwardly directed peripheral shoulder formed in the inner face thereof and said second tubular member has an outwardly directed downwardly facing shoulder proximate its upper edge slidably engaging said upwardly directed shoulder of said first tubular member.

9. The writing implement of claim 7 wherein said slot extends from said shoulder to the upper edge of said second tubular member. 

1. A retractable writing implement comprising a barrel member including relatively rotatable upper and lower coaxial sections, a writing element disposed in said barrel member and longitudinally movable between a retracted position and an advanced position projecting through the bottom of said barrel member, a spring engaging said writing element and urging it toward a retracted position, and a writing element advancing mechanism including a pair of relatively rotatable telescoping first and second tubular members respectively rotatable with said upper and lower barrel sections, said first tubular member having an inclined cam defining peripheral edge and said second tubular member having a longitudinally extending slot, and a chuck longitudinally slidably disposed in said tubular members and engaging said writing element and urged thereby toward a retracted position and having a follower element slidably engaging said slot and said cam, said first and second tubular members having a length greater than said chuck.
 2. The writing implement of claim 1 wherein said slot is vertical and said second tubular member has a second slot formed therein parallel to and diametrically opposite said first slot, said chuck having a second follower disposed thereon slidably engaging said second slot and terminating at a point short of the inner face of said first tubular member, said cam edge being downwardly directed.
 3. The writing implement of claim 2 wherein said first follower is longer than said second follower.
 4. The writing implement of claim 1 including a sleeve member having an upper portion engaging the lower inside face of said second tubular member and a lower portion of enlarged outside diameter engaging the inside face of said lower barrel section.
 5. The writing implement of claim 1 wherein said cam edge is positioned above the bottom-most edge of said first tubular member and has a recess formed therein proximate its lower end.
 6. The writing implement of claim 5 wherein said depending stop defining shoulders are movable into alternative abutment with said follower element.
 7. A retractable writing implement comprising a barrel member including relatively rotatable upper and lower coaxial sections, a writing element disposed in said barrel member and longitudinally movable between a retracted position and an advanced position, spring means urging said writing element to a retracted position, and a writing element advancing mechanism including a pair of relatively rotatable telescoping first and second tubular members, said first tubular member being rotatable with said barrel upper section and having an inclined peripheral edge defining a downwardly directed cam, said second tubular member being rotatable with said lower barrel section and having a longitudinally extending slot and including an upper portion disposed in said first tubular member and a lower portion disposed below and of greater outside diameter than said upper portion and delineated from said upper portion by a peripheral shoulder, a portion of the bottom edge of said first tubular member being horizontal and slidably engaging said shoulder, and a chuck slidably disposed in said tubular members and engaging said writing element and haVing a follower element slidably engaging said slot and said cam.
 8. The writing implement of claim 7 wherein said first tubular member has an upwardly directed peripheral shoulder formed in the inner face thereof and said second tubular member has an outwardly directed downwardly facing shoulder proximate its upper edge slidably engaging said upwardly directed shoulder of said first tubular member.
 9. The writing implement of claim 7 wherein said slot extends from said shoulder to the upper edge of said second tubular member. 